LOVINGTON, N.M. – Tie-down roper Clint Cooper wasn’t born in this southeastern New Mexico community. He doesn’t live here now. But Lovington is his home. It’s where he grew up, where he graduated high school. Jake McClure Arena is where he watched his hall-of-fame father, Roy Cooper, and all the other great ropers in rodeo.[...]

SILVERTON, Texas – When the organizers of the annual Buck Wild Days Rodeo decided to take their event to the ranks of ProRodeo, there were some skeptics in the Texas Panhandle. They’re not skeptical anymore. Now they’re ready to take it up another notch by improving the product during this year’s rodeo, set for 7:30[...]

SILVERTON, Texas – Sometimes one athlete can find a special connection with another. In rodeo, it happens all the time. It’s quite obvious that ropers, steer wrestlers and barrel racers have a strong relationship with the mounts that carry them down the rodeo trail. But the same can be said in the world of roughstock,[...]

BAREBACK RIDING 1. Brian Bain, 87 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Black Coffee; 2. Lee Lantz, 85; 3. Caleb Bennett, 84; 4. Royce Ford, 75. STEER WRESTLING First round leaders: 1. Dean Gorsuch, 3.9 seconds; 2. Shane Henderson, 4.1; 3. Seth Braockman and Ken Lewis, 4.2; 5. Lee Graves, 4.3; 6. Rusty Hamilton, 4.6; 7.[...]

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Since he first joined the ranks of ProRodeo, Brian Bain has been considered one of the best bareback riders in the business. In 2011, he’s showing the world. Bain, of Culver, Ore., is No. 11 in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings. On Wednesday night at Jake McClure Arena, Bain rode[...]

STEER WRESTLING First round leaders: 1. Dean Gorsuch, 3.9 seconds; 2. Shane Henderson, 4.1; 3. Seth Braockman and Ken Lewis, 4.2; 5. Stockton Graves and Stan Branco, 4.9; 7. Olin Hannum, 5.1; 8. Josh Peek and John Franzen, 5.6. TIE-DOWN ROPING First round leaders: 1. Seth Hooper and Houston Hutto, 9.3 seconds; 3. Ryan Jarrett[...]

 

LOVINGTON, N.M. – This segment of New Mexico is well known for its rough terrain. It’s also well known for being home to some of the best steer ropers in the history of the sport. That’s why it’s a big stop for steer ropers hoping to qualify for the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping[...]

The rodeo trail can be long and winding. It can lead many places, good and bad. For me, it’s a wonder and realization of dreams. But my dreams aren’t the same as those who compete for gold buckles; yes, they’re in the same aisle of the store, but what I do is fairly different that[...]